eLanka

Wednesday, 1 Oct 2025
  • Home
  • Read History
  • Articles
    • eLanka Journalists
  • Events
  • Useful links
    • Obituaries
    • Seeking to Contact
    • eLanka Newsletters
    • eLanka Testimonials
    • Sri Lanka Newspapers
    • Sri Lanka TV LIVE
    • Sri Lanka Radio
    • eLanka Recepies
  • Gallery
  • Contact
Newsletter
  • eLanka Weddings
  • Property
  • eLanka Shop
  • Business Directory
eLankaeLanka
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Read History
  • Articles
    • eLanka Journalists
  • Events
  • Useful links
    • Obituaries
    • Seeking to Contact
    • eLanka Newsletters
    • eLanka Testimonials
    • Sri Lanka Newspapers
    • Sri Lanka TV LIVE
    • Sri Lanka Radio
    • eLanka Recepies
  • Gallery
  • Contact
Follow US
© 2005 – 2025 eLanka Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Home » Blog » Articles » A temple with Dutch influence-BY MAHIL WIJESINGHE
Articles

A temple with Dutch influence-BY MAHIL WIJESINGHE

eLanka admin
Last updated: March 12, 2022 6:29 am
By
eLanka admin
ByeLanka admin
Follow:
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

A temple with Dutch influence-BY MAHIL WIJESINGHE

Dutch influence

Source:Sundayobserver

The attention of any visitor to the Southern Province is immediately drawn to the city of Galle and its maritime heritage of Galle Fort. Being a maritime province, it has lived through 350 years of colonial rule by first, the Portuguese, then the Dutch and finally, the British.

Inevitably, contemporary artistic and architectural styles were influenced by European standards and values, which are mirrored in the buildings, especially, in Buddhist temples in this maritime region of the 18th to the last quarter of the 19th centuries.

More Read

Gayani de Alwis at the helm of Women’s Chamber of Industry & Commerce (WCIC) for the 2nd year
LIBRARY ACQUISITONS – SEPTEMBER 2025
SRI LANKA NEWS – SEPTEMBER 2025

Among these buildings, the most awe-inspiring and intrinsic Buddhist architectural finds are in the small hillock, widely known as, Kumarakanda, a couple of kilometres past Hikkaduwa on the land side of the Colombo-Galle highway at Dodanduwa, a picturesque tourist sea resort area close to the southern capital of Galle.

Having parked the vehicle in the car park at the foothill, we trekked through the flight of steps under the scorching sun to visit the temple.

Hill of the Prince

As the name of the temple indicates, ‘Kumarakanda’ denotes a hill, meaning Hill of the Prince. The temple is nestled on a rocky hillock with a flight of steps. The outer protective walls have a Dutch flavour. These structures give the temple the look of a Dutch Fort.

The Dutch look is evident no sooner one gets a first glimpse of the temple. Being on the summit of the hill, it could be seen from a distance. The magnificent white washed arched-entrance at the top of a steep flight of steps is impressive. Two animals, a lion and a horse are depicted on the upper part of the arch, reminding one of the coat-of-arms at the entrance of a Dutch Fort. The flight of steps divided into two parts and ornate half walls virtually serve as a protective railing for devotees who make the steep climb.

According to historical notes, this temple dates back to 1765 AD, but scholars believe, the original temple was demolished by the European invaders who occupied the South Western coastal line in the 16th Century. After consolidating their rule, the second invaders, the Dutch, introduced Protestant Christianity and showed more hostility to their predecessor’s Roman Catholicism, than to Buddhism.

Having been influenced by the European architecture, and being on friendly terms with the Dutch, Buddhist devotees rebuilt the Kumarakanda temple in mid-18th Century. Lying a few feet away from the entrance is an image house where architecture is reminiscent of the European church style with its arches.

Three chambers

There are three chambers in the image house and at the time of our visit, only one image house was kept open. The blue painted wooden doors leading to the inner chambers are typically Dutch style doors, and are all double panelled.

The door panels are narrow and one of the panels in the second inner chamber which is somewhat bigger, is divided into two with the upper part serving more like a window. In this window like panel, a horoscope chart like design has been created. All the door frames and panels are painted in blue.

After gazing at the splendor of the image house, we learnt that it is believed to date back to 1784. In the left corner of the image chamber is a statue of a reclining Buddha. Most ancient murals have been destroyed and a new set of paintings done on the surface of the earlier ones. But, a square feet of the oldest remnants of a mural has been left, to show visitors how the walls looked originally.

Since it was kept closed when we visited, we learnt that two marble statues donated by the King of Myanmar are exhibited with two other statues in the middle chamber. The walls carry the modern paintings of Buddha’s life and 16 prominent Buddhist places of worship in Sri Lanka. The third chamber displays statues of 24 Buddhas and the walls are embellished with murals depicting the Vessanthara Jathaka story. A few yards away from the image house, we came to the open courtyard where another glistering arch-entrance, resembling Dutchstyle stood, along with a temple belfry (Gantara Kuluna) and glistering Dagaba.

Belfry

More Read

indfulness & The Middle Path
Existential Crisis, Mindfulness & The Middle Path | Dr. Asoka Bandarage
Sri Lanka rue missed opportunities in World Cup opener against India. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor).
loving memory Lionel Seneviratne

The belfry in the centre of the courtyard was also typically Dutch, with intricately carved floral designs and motifs. This belfry has a unique look compared to other belfries in temples. In the early days, the ringing of the temple bell was a call to the villagers to gather at the temple. It could be an emergency when the bhikkhu needed some assistance. Today, the bell is rung during the temple rituals and offerings.

The old tile thatched building with the arched-entrance is said to be a well-equipped library, which had earlier been housed in a Dutch style building. These buildings have been reconstructed from time to time and the roof tiles have been changed a couple of times. A priceless collection of books, manuscripts and other documents written by scholarly bhikkhus and laymen during the Buddhist revival in the late 19th century had been placed in the library.

We next came to the lower terrace after climbing down a short flight of steps to the preaching hall where the devotees gather to listen to sermons by the bhikkhus.

The wooden pillars which stand from the middle of the wall have three rounded wooden pillars up to the roof, decorated with carvings of a group of rings and painted in orange. The remnants of a Dutch style podium where the bhikkhus sat and preached sermons are in a corner. This building is also used as a classroom for the Dhamma School.

The Kumarakanda temple and other Buddhist temples scattered in the Southern Province, which boast a unique art and architectural style with strong European influence must be protected. 

TAGGED:Galle FortKumarakanda templeVessanthara Jathaka story
Share This Article
Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Gadaladeniya temple The Glory of Gadaladeniya & Lankathilaka Temples-by Dishan Joseph
Next Article Galle Fort area UDA completes Rs. 210 m beautification of Galle Fort area
FacebookLike
YoutubeSubscribe
LinkedInFollow
Most Read
10 Pictures With Fascinating Stories Behind Them!

“A PICTURE SPEAKS A 1000 WORDS” – By Des Kelly

Look past your thoughts so you may drink the pure nectar of this moment

A Life Hack for when we’re Burnt Out & Broken Down – By Uma Panch

Narration of the History of our Proud Ancestral (Orang Jawa) Heritage. by Noor R. Rahim

eLanka Weddings

eLanka Marriage Proposals

Noel News

Noel News

Noel News

Noel News- By Noel Whittaker

EILEEN MARY SIBELLE DE SILVA (nee DISSANAYAKE) – 29 September 1922 – 6 April 2018 – A Woman of Value an Appreciation written by Mohini Gunasekera

K.K.S. Cement Factory

Dr.Harold Gunatillake’s 90th Birthday party

Sri Lanka's women's cricket squad in Melbourne

Cricket: Sri Lanka’s women’s squad in Melbourne

- Advertisement -
Ad image
Related News
What it takes to make Prime Minister Modi’s call to buy domestic goods feasible? - By N.S.Venkataraman
Articles N.S.Venkataraman

What it takes to make Prime Minister Modi’s call to buy domestic goods feasible? – By N.S.Venkataraman

royal collage
Articles

Royal College Queensland 2025 – From Royal Thomian Glory to School Cricket Champions

thalagoda
Articles

Stories Behind Names of Places in Sri Lanka THALAGODA – By Nimal Sedera

Lytton Chandra (LC) de Silva
Articles Obituaries

Lytton Chandra (LC) de Silva

Articles

Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – September 2025

  • Quick Links:
  • Articles
  • DESMOND KELLY
  • Dr Harold Gunatillake
  • English Videos
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sinhala Videos
  • eLanka Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Tamil Videos
  • Dr. Harold Gunatillake
  • Sunil Thenabadu
  • Sinhala Movies
  • Trevine Rodrigo
  • Michael Roberts
  • Tamil Movies

eLanka

Your Trusted Source for News & Community Stories: Stay connected with reliable updates, inspiring features, and breaking news. From politics and technology to culture, lifestyle, and events, eLanka brings you stories that matter — keeping you informed, engaged, and connected 24/7.
Kerrie road, Oatlands , NSW 2117 , Australia.
Email : info@eLanka.com.au / rasangivjes@gmail.com.
WhatsApp : +61402905275 / +94775882546

(c) 2005 – 2025 eLanka Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.